Talk with me about Trans Case leak

Afternoon Friends,

I’ve moves from 100 Series to 4R…. I know… who does that?!

I bought an ‘04 V8 4WD with 259k

The mechanic who gave it a once over before buying it said the fluid underneath was just blowback from leak at valve cover gaskets, “a common issue on these 4.7 engine.”

Well, I had the dealer replace valve cover gaskets, pressure control valve and align it.

Well, the leak is indeed from Trans Case/4WD Actuator area.

Initially I stumbled across a GX forum and was elated to find that I could just “wiggle” off the actuator and replace the “O” seal.

Then I read about our 4Runner and it’s auto 4WD having 2 rods into Tcase with clips making the actuator impossible to remove without cracking open Tcase.

Local AAMCO shop (not same shop/mechanic who failed initial inspection) quickly told me the book quotes it at 13 hrs labor ($1,600).

The vehicle runs and drives great. I’m just not someone who can drive a leaky vehicle.

Ok so where do I go from here?

1). What is the driveway diagnosis for this?
2). If I have a trusted mechanic crack open the Tcase…what parts fix this leak?

Is there a thread yall can link me to about this?

 

Here is a pic

 

Depends how bad the leak and how much is leaking every 7 days.

I got a few drips from my 2005 runner with 170,000 miles (in the garage), and I'm just watching it. Looks like oil - which gets changed every 5000 miles. I won't put a stop leak in there, as it starts and runs great.

Besides, a $1500 bill to replace the gasket and it might still leak!

All 15-year-old cars and trucks are going to develop some oil leaks, IMO.

All of them!

 

Didn't you say your oil leaks stopped after changing back to conventional... still leaking huh? Have you checked to see WHY its leaking yet? Probably an easy fix.

Oil stop leak wont affect how a car starts & runs.

All of them? Strange, my 4runner is going on 14 years old & is bone dry everywhere... using synthetic oil & lube everywhere.

 

Some guys have split the Xfer case open & resealed the actuator & case, there's a write up on how to do it somewhere out there, try google or search the forum(s).

 

Hi, by picture it looks like leaking between transfer case and actuator. The actuator has O-ring on the housing and two shaft seals for rods. If oil is leaking just between T-case and actuator, this means O-ring should be relapsed. If oil is coming from actuator than shaft seals should be relapsed. It is possible to make it with out t-case disassembly. Only the actuator needs to be disassembly and timing procedure for it then. It is a little tricky, but I made it two times successfully.